Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Dyer Hudson hall needs replaced (termites) and is a TERRIBLE venue for weddings, dances, etc.  Plus, currently there is nothing large enough in MARION COUNTY to hold the Raceway Banquet (so they spend a ton of $$$ to rent somewhere in DesMoines to hold it every year).

I agree, that it would be "nice" to have a larger video screen, but as I stated in my previous post, it;s used a GRAND TOTAL of 36 days a year.  It's STUPID to spend $$$ on the video board unless it "must" be replaced.

as far as location goes, it's not much different than the Hall of Fame (early summer the HoF looks directly into the sun, late summer, this building will.  doesn't seem to bother the people that sit over at the Hall of Fame.  Doubt there will be any outdoor seating on the racetrack side of this buiding either.

As a fan that sits in the stands, the building will make no difference for me personally.  However, I try to think from the raceway's point of view too.  How do you wine and dine sponsors in the current suites?  You can't as they only hold 8-16 people, how can you bring a group of 50-100 from a large corporation you are trying to entice to sponsor the raceway if you don't have anywhere to put them??

Another thing to think about is "year-round" revenue.  A new video board is an expense and will not increase revenue on a yearly basis.  A new building can increase revenue on a yearly basis (1) more suites to sell and from what I am hearing, the Hall of Fame and the Raceway have more interest in suites this year than they've had for the last 10 years, (2) a place to rent out "year round" for banquets, and such, and (3) retail space that you can collect monthly rent on.

From a BUSINESS Standpoint, the raceway has no choice but to either add amenities (this building, better wi-fi, upgraded restrooms, etc., etc.) or stop being a viable venue (their competition for reveue $$'s is Wells Fargo Arena (Barnstormers, concerts, Iowa Energy, etc., etc.), the Iowa Speedway (currently has better amenities and the state falls over themselves giving them tax rebates even though they are owned by a corporation that makes 10's of millions of $$$'s in profit every year), and the local colleges, universities sporting events (ISU, Iowa, UNI, Drake, etc., etc.).

Keeping with the "status quo" will result in LESS fans attending every week as opposed to continual upgrading which may entice those "fringe" or "fair-weather" or "casual" fans to attend events there more often.  Hate to break this to everyone, but the Marion County Fairgrounds and Knoxville Raceway are an ENTERTAINMENT VENUE, not a Racetrack.

The fair board has not kept abreast of the entertainment people are wanting, such as better amenities people  want better restroom facalities no drunks in the stands better concessions etc. Iowa Speedway provides this. Knoxville needs to make changes as they have competition , they also need changes in the format for the nationals it is ridiculous to have same points for qualifying as for the feature , ask the drivers.

Depends on where you sit in the HoF.  And, if you use the correct type of glass, you won't have glare for the racers and you can significantly diminish the power of the sun for those behind the glass.

I think the newer members of the Faiboard KNOW that they are behind the times, problem is that it takes $$$$ (and lots of it) to get into today's modern age and this is step #1 of many.

As far as the format and point system for the Nationals, if it was such a big deal, they wouldn't come race if they think it's that unfair.  As it stands, it's the same format for everyone, they can make tweaks, but as a FAN, they'd be stupid to lessen the invert or change qualifying points (why promote sandbagging by decreasing qualifying points).  As it stands, the cream always rises to the top by Saturday night.  Take away qualifying points and odds are the same 24 guys will still be in the feature, they just will start in the first 2 or 3 rows of the heat instead of row 3 or 4.

one thing they can do fo us old folks is put some rails so we can up and down the stands

Great plan.  I applaud Brian and board for investing in the facilities.  Step in the right direction.  Amazing some people's ridiculous arguments about doing such a project.  Thank god YOU aren't in charge.

One idea they should consider is leasing out 3rd floor to a restaurant/bar & grill.  Would be easy consistent revenue.  Perhaps get a BWW or similar as tenant.  Would think it would be a win/win.

The fair board has not kept abreast of the entertainment people are wanting, such as better amenities people  want better restroom facalities no drunks in the stands better concessions etc. Iowa Speedway provides this. Knoxville needs to make changes as they have competition , they also need changes in the format for the nationals it is ridiculous to have same points for qualifying as for the feature , ask the drivers.

Agree, a BWW would be an awesome tie-in.

From an article I read earlier this week, some improvements will begin THIS season. 

New buildings to house the Ambulance/Fire and New building to house grader, tractors, etc.  Old quanset hut to be torn down (located behind backstretch grandstand).

NSCHoF is half way to their goal to begin construction on their new staging and storage facility (both of these projects could be going up at the same time if they get the remainder of their needed funding -- darn Powerball #'s didn't come in for me or they'd have their $$$ and could begin construction this spring).

With "new to Knoxville" fans being brought in the past few years (Hairball concert, AMA Motorcycles, Late Models, MonsterJam), getting facilities to match or exceed places like Wells Fargo Arena, Iowa Speedway, Hilton Collesium, Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Jack Trice Stadium and Kinnick Stadium are a MUST to entice those $$$'s to be spent in Knoxville instead of elsewhere.

Brian Stickel was on the local sports station yesterday and threw out the idea of a Wednesday or Thursday night NASCAR Truck race in Knoxville and then a Saturday afternoon Nationwide Race (Iowa Speedway) - weekly racing @ Knoxville Saturday Night) and Sunday Cup Race in Newton as a great WEEK of racing in Iowa.  I agree and that is the type of "long term" thinking that needs to be done by the Fairboard.  Glad to see they are thinking "long term" instead of "the toilets are backed up, maybe we should replace some in the next 5 or 6 years...).

Think about this. Nascar truck race at Knoxville draws more fans (due to the novelty of the trucks on dirt) than Iowa speedway draws for a truck race. Wouldn't that be embarrasing for Nascar? Also got to wonder why Nascar would sanction a truck race at Knoxville when they OWN a racetrack just 25 miles north of knoxville?

Regardless, I will not be there if they should get a truck race since they would be slower than the dirt trucks that raced at Des Moines they used to bring in a couple times a year.

But it would bring in fans that have never been to Knoxville before.  If they like what they see there, even if only 10% of them come back to watch a weekly race, a WoO event or the Nationals, that is good for Sprint Car Racing.

The Fairboard and the management appear to be looking at the "big picture" and "long term" while some on this message board are still using their own miopic view of racing (sprint car racing is all they care about period, everything else is "junk" to them).

Hate to break this to you, but without "new fans" coming to sprint car racing, it's days are numbered (just like any other sport that has a "graying" fanbase.  you have to figure out a way to get new, young fans in the stands and to get some that are only interested in a specific form of racing (NASCAR for example) to come see something different and get them hooked.

Think about this. Nascar truck race at Knoxville draws more fans (due to the novelty of the trucks on dirt) than Iowa speedway draws for a truck race. Wouldn't that be embarrasing for Nascar? Also got to wonder why Nascar would sanction a truck race at Knoxville when they OWN a racetrack just 25 miles north of knoxville?

Regardless, I will not be there if they should get a truck race since they would be slower than the dirt trucks that raced at Des Moines they used to bring in a couple times a year.

How will fans coming to watch a truck race becone new sprint car fans when they don't see any sprint car racing. 

90% of the "fans" that go to Newton for the NASCAR races aren't race fans.  They are simply looking for entertainment.  By getting them to Knoxville for ANY event (MonsterJam, a concert, sprint car races, Late Models, or even a NASCAR Truck Race), they may choose to spend their entertainment $$$$ on Knoxville over another venue for future entertainment (and that entertainment may be a sprint car race instead).

It's not about them becoming a "hard core" sprint car fan, it's about revenue $$$'s.  Getting them through the door once increases the probability of them returning for other events (no different than if you go to a minor league hockey game (if you have a good time and feel you got your $$$'s worth, you're more likely to return for other events like concerts, minor league basketball, etc. at that venue .  Never getting them through the door doesn't generate any $$$.

The only necessary upgrades that Knoxville needs to make are to the bathrooms. For such a place of prominence the restrooms are deplorable. If they fix the restrooms first then I think its a good idea to move ahead with the other upgrades.